(Stump v. Sparkman)

Facts: Please state a short, concise statement of the facts.

Procedural Issue: How did the lower court rule? Cases being adjudicated in the United States Supreme Court are initiated in a lower court. How did each lower court rule? There could be more than one lower court. Please state how the lower court/courts ruled.

Substantive Issue: This is the question before the court. One party is asking the Court a question or asking the Court to "consider." What is being asked of the Court? State the question before the Court.

Judgment: The judgment will be affirmed or reversed. Some cases can also be affirmed in part or reversed in part. If the case is affirmed, then the Court is agreeing with the last court from which it came. Some of these cases have been through three or four court systems. If the case is reversed, then the Court is disagreeing with the last court. Sometimes the Court will agree and disagree with certain aspects of the prior decision.

Holding: This is the rule of law. The holding will answer the question before the Court.

Rationale: The rationale can be a sentence or two that explains the holding. The Court gives you reasons why. These reasons are the rationale.